Brad Hardy – Board Member

Brad Hardy’s (Brad) role is as a member of the Board of Directors of Proficio Bank. Mr. Hardy was the CEO of the Bank during the organizational stage and through the first four years of operations. Mr. Hardy has over 30 years of broad and diverse experience in the banking, mortgage and bank-related industries. Brad currently is practicing law with B Hardy Law LLC where he is engaged in a general corporate and banking practice. Mr. Hardy has held roles including Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel at First Security Corporation, a $22 billion bank holding company headquartered in Salt Lake City (1995-2000). First Security Corporation, prior to its acquisition by Wells Fargo in 2000, was the second largest independent bank holding company in the West. First Security operated almost 4000 banking centers in 7 states. First Security operated 150 residential mortgage and construction lending offices in 26 states through CrossLand Mortgage, First Security Bank and First Security Leasing. During the merger of First Security and Wells Fargo Mr. Hardy held a leadership role as co-chair of the integration of that merger as well as other responsibilities (2000-2005). Earlier in his career, Mr. Hardy was in private practice at Ray, Quinney & Nebeker, a corporate law firm, specializing in bank regulation, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance (1978-1995). Mr. Hardy received a BS in business management (1974), MBA (1975) and JD (1978) from the University of Utah.

Tim Howells – Board Member

Tim Howells is a 1968 graduate of the University of Utah with a degree in history. Following graduation Tim joined Howells, Inc., a family-owned paint and wallcovering business headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. During his time there the company expanded its operations into other states and product lines. In 1982 Tim left the company to pursue private business ventures, including investments and commercial real estate.

In 1989 Tim was hired as the General Manager of the Utah Jazz of the NBA. During his eleven year tenure he was responsible for overseeing the operations of the franchise, serving on the NBA board of governors during his entire tenure. He also directed the operation of the organization’s IHL hockey and WNBA franchises, serving on the board of governors of each respective league. At the end of 1999 Tim left the Jazz to pursue other business ventures, including almost four years as President and CEO of Sahara, Inc., a design build general contracting company.

Always an active member of the community, Tim has directed and served on boards of several non-profit, civic and business organizations as well as industry associations. Tim currently serves on the board of The Sandy Club for Boys and Girls and is Executive Director of The First Tee of Utah, a chapter he was responsible for founding.

Tim and his wife Patty are the parents of four children and thirteen grandchildren and are active members of their church.

Bill Sutton – Board Member

Mr. Sutton is a seasoned banker now residing in North Georgia. During his career Mr. Sutton held executive positions in a number of banks in Florida and Georgia. Most recently until 2007 he served as CEO of Seasons Bank in Blairsville, Georgia. In 1996 Mr. Sutton was the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in Florida District 2, the largest congressional district east of the Mississippi. In 1989 Mr. Sutton was appointed as Florida’s Secretary of Commerce. As Secretary, Mr. Sutton led a staff of approximately 300 individuals with a budget in excess of $300 million with offices in Japan, Korea, Great Britain, Canada, Germany, and Brazil. He promoted Florida’s foreign trade, tourism, professional sports, motion picture industry activity, as well as the state’s seaports and airports. Prior to this appointment, he served as the president of the Florida Bankers’ Association, a trade group of then approximately 635 member banks. He also served as Media Spokesman for the American Bankers Association and was involved in TV, radio, and print activities in major cities across the nation. Before this assignment Mr. Sutton was appointed by the Secretary of Defense to head Florida’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a position with a three-star protocol rank and seven-year assignment including those to NATO headquarters in Brussels, operations in Germany and other U.S. bases. His other activities have included the Chamber of Commerce, the Advisory Board of Florida State University College of Business, and the Tallahassee Symphony. Mr. Sutton, who attended the University of Miami on athletic scholarship, received his BBA degree in 1961, then attended Stetson College of Law and Indiana University for graduate work.

John F. Miller – Board Member

Mr. Miller is an investment professional, entrepreneur and consultant to the community banking industry who, since 2000, has provided investment advisory and consulting services in the banking and insurance industries. He served for the PWH Trust for many years where he created and introduced multiple technological and analytic tools to the investment trust that greatly expanded the community bank, insurance and other industry portfolios under management. He was a founding investor and board member at Professional Bank and Pioneer Bank working to launch and grow these businesses in Texas. He currently serves on the board of Mission Valley Bancorp in Sun Valley, CA. He attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated in three years with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Philosophy. He is co-founder and managing partner of a winery in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley.